Extant Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras from the Perspective of the History of Commentaries

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the reception and development of Prajñāpāramitā sūtras from the Indian Aṣṭasāhasrikā to Śatasāhasrikā, based on commentaries.

I discuss the differences in the following commentaries: （a）: those on the Abhisamayālaṃkāra, and （b）: those focused on the Āryaśatasāhasrikā-pañcaviṃśatisāha­srikāṣṭādaśasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-bṛhaṭṭīkā, exploring two viewpoints: 1. Differences based on the authors’ standpoint and key ideas, 2. Differences based on differences in the text of the work being commented on.

I found that the Tathāgatagarbha theory not found in （a） was introduced into （b） in the context of commentaries on the word “bodhisattva” in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras. In addition, I found that in the context of discussions of saddharmasyāntrardhāna, while （b） included the theory of the 5000 years’ duration of the true teaching, （a） did not. It became clear that （b） includes commentaries on the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras that contain the expression “In the final 500 years,” while （a） includes commentaries for Prajñāpāramitā sūtras not containing the expression.